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THE BULLETIN 

OF THE 

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON 

THE STATE UNIVERSITY 



ISSUED QUARTERLY 
SERIES EEL NUMBER 2. 

DECEMBER, 1903 

HISTORY SERIES. 



CHIEF SEALTH 

BY FRANK CARLSON, A. B. 



A THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE DEGREE OP MASTER OP ARTS 



Pioneer Printing Company. 



>» Seattle, Washington, 1903. 



Mir*. 

JAN 25 191* 



CHIEF SBALTH 

BY 

FRANK CARLSON, A. B. 



THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE DEGREE OF 
MASTER OF ARTS. 



UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, 1903 



PREFACE. 



The aim and object of this thesis is to present a complete 
and accurate report of the life and achievement of Sealth, chief 
of the Duwamish, Suquamish, Samahmish, Skopahmish, Stakah- 
mish and Sktahlmish tribes. The work was assigned to me for 
especial research by Professor Edmond S. Meany in the Depart- 
ment of History. After taking a preliminary survey of the field, 
it was decided to continue the work and supplement the ma- 
terial bearing upon the subject by personally interviewing those 
few who yet survive and remember the chief. 

The literature consulted was found in the libraries of the 
City of Seattle and the University of Washington, and some 
valuable information obtained from the files of The Seattle Daily 
Times, The Seattle Telegraph, and The Post-Intelligencer. This, 
together with several interviews with the early settlers, letters 
from various persons, and personal talks with the Indians of the 
Port Madison Reservation constitutes my authority. 

I am especially indebted for valuable assistance in this work 
to Professor Edmond S. Meany; officers and attendants of the 
libraries mentioned; Mrs. D. S. Maynard; D. T. Denny, Clarence 

B. Bagley; Rev. M. Eells, of Twana; A. L. Bjorkstan, Professor 
A. A. Bartow, in charge of the Port Madison Reservation; Mrs. 

C. J. Thompson, a great-granddaughter of Sealth; and Judge 
Charley Keokuk, a resident of the reservation. 

Seattle, Washington, June, 1903. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

Introduction. 

Chapter. Page. 

I. Indian Tribes on Puget Sound 9 

II. Chief Schweabe 10 

III. Sealth's Early Life and Marriage 14 

IV. Chieftainship 16 

V. Treaty with the United States 18 

VI. Old-Man-House 22 

VII. Reminiscences of the Whites 25 

VIII. Sealth's Last Years, Death and Funeral . ... 28 

IX. Sealth's Descendants 31 

X. White Man's Tribute 33 

Bibliography. 34 



INTRODUCTION. 



CHIEF SEALTH. 

That "Peace hath her victories, no less renowned than war," 
is truly demonstrated by the career of this untutored child of the 
forest who was able to sway the minds of the savage tribes by 
his oratory, rather than by the terror of war. 

"He was the greatest friend of the Whites on this side of 
the continent." This has been emphatically repeated again and 
again by Mrs. D. S. Maynard, who enjoyed the friendship of the 
old Chief and has an intimate knowledge of the early Indians. 
She was with her husband, Dr. D. S. Maynard, who was sub- 
agent of the Port Madison Indian Reservation for nearly two 
years, 1855-1856; and she gained much information through her 
brother, Colonel M. T. Simmons, who was general agent. 

D. T. Denny, who arrived at Alki Point in 1851, gave me this 
statement: "I was favorably impressed with the appearance 
of Sealth as a man of more than ordinary ability both physically 
and mentally. He could be heard a distance of half a mile when 
he addressed his people, and he seemed to control them by his 
powerful intellect." 

But Samuel F. Coombs says of the chief: "The first time 
I ever saw Sealth was in the summer of 1860, shortly after my 
arrival, at a council of chiefs in Seattle. At that time there was 
an unusually large number of Indians in town, over one thous- 
and being congregated on the sandy beach. Most of the Indians 
were standing around or talking in groups or* listening to the 
deliberations of the council of about twenty of the oldest Indians 
seated in a circle on the ground. The chief figure was a venerable 
looking old native, who was apparently acting as judge, as all 
who spoke addressed themselves to him. I learned, from an 
intelligent looking Indian who could speak English, that the old 
judge was Chief Sealth. 

"With this young man as interpreter, I interviewed several of 
the oldest natives as to how Sealth became head chief of so 



many tribes. They said that about fifty years before that time, 
when Sealth was twenty or twenty-two years old, news reached 
the various tribes in this vicinity that a large number of moun- 
tain or upper Green and White River Indians were preparing to 
make a raid upon the salt water tribes. Great anxiety was felt 
among the latter, as the mountain tribes were redoubtable war- 
riors, and had cn several previous occasions vanquished them 
and carried off many of their people to slavery. 

"A council of war was held, composed of the chiefs of the 
leading tribes expecting to be attacked. After the old men had 
presented their plans, none were satisfactory, and the younger 
men were called upon for suggestions; then young Sealth pre- 
sented a well laid plan, which was adopted, and he himself was 
appointed leader of the expedition." * 

Sealth was victorious and after returning he was elected 
head chief of the six tribes, the former chiefs becoming sub- 
chiefs.** 

It is the object of this study to examine all the available 
evidence that we have, so as to judge fairly both sides. 

Furthermore, an abstract of the treaty between the United 
States and the Duwamish, Suquamish and other allied and sub- 
ordinate tribes will be given. And in connection with this, a de- 
scription will be given of the Old-Man-House, the home of Sealth 
and the chief rendezvous of the various tribes. 

And we shall note whether or not Sealth deserved the honor 
the Whites so gratefully bestowed upon him, and also mention 
his descendants, who forever will be proud of an ancestor who 
never shed a White man's blood. 



* J. A. Costello, The Siwash, p. 102. ** p. 104. 



CHAPTER I. 



INDIAN TRIBES ON PUGET SOUND. 

As we looked doubtfully into the dim past of Indian History 
of Puget Sound, there appears to our vision many heroes and 
battles that would be as celebrated as the siege of Troy or the 
founding of Rome. But alas! The Indians had no Homer to 
depict their deeds and valor, nor a Virgil to sing of their noble 
ancestry. Their past is forgotten, and the only relics that we 
find are their traditions, art and social life. 

The Indians, like the ancient inhabitants of Greece and 
Rome, have no definite knowledge of their past; they believe 
that their ancestors have always inhabited that part of the coun- 
try in which they live. It has taken years of research of Ameri- 
can scholars to relegate the different tribes to their proper fam- 
ilies and to deduce a theory as to their probable origin. 

There are many writers who claim that the Pacific Coast was 
the first place on this continent inhabited by man. They support 
their claim by the similarity of language, ideas of Supreme Being 
and physical characteristics between the American Indians and 
the Mongolians and other Asiatic peoples; by the proximity of 
North America to Asia, claiming that the distance is not greater 
than it might have been possible to cross over, using the Aleutian 
Islands as stepping stones: whereas, it would have been impossi- 
ble to cross the Atlantic; and by the number of different stocks 
of Indians that have been found along the coast from Alaska to 
Patagonia. 

If we accept this view there is no doubt but that this part 
of the country has been inhabited for ages and was the home of 
many of the Eastern tribes. 

But authentic history of the Indians of the Northwest coast 
begins with the early voyage of European navigators searching 
for a "Northwest Passage." 

The first eminent writer of the Indians on Puget Sound was 
Albert Gallatin, who wrote "A Synopsis of the Indians West of 
the Rocky Mountains in 1836." His classification in giving nearly 
the whole region of Puget Sound to the Salishan (Selish) family, 
has been accepted by subsequent writers. 



There are only two families who have from time immemorial 
occupied the region known as Puget Sound. The one is the 
Xutka (.Wakashan) family, who occupy only a small territory 
around Cape Flattery, and number about five hundred souls. 
They live almost entirely on fishing, but they are quite intelli- 
gent and have rude huts for their dwellings. The other is the 
Selishan. or Flathead family, so named by Gallatin in his work. 
He did not know the extent of their territory and he simply 
referred to Puget Sound as their home. Our knowledge has been 
greatly extended in regard to the territorial limits of this family. 
It is found as far south as the territory of the Tillamooks. abo*ut 
fifty miles south of the Columbia River, on the coast of Oregon. 
North, it inhabits part of Vancouver Island, the Fraser River 
valley and the adjoining coast of British Columbia. East, it oc- 
cupies territories as far as the feeders of the Columbia, which 
reach into Montana. 

The table facing this page gives the different tribes that lived 
on Puget Sound at the time of the treaties between the Indians 
and the United States in 1S55. It is based on the original treat- 
ies: The Tribes of the Extreme Northwest, by W H. Dall: United 
States Census of 1890; and Governor Stevens' Report of the 
Railway Survey from Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean in 1853. 



CHAPTER II. 

CHIEF SCHWEABE. 

The present chapter will contain the history of Schweabe, 
father of Chief Search, and chief of the Suquamish tribe, whose 
territory embraced the eastern half of the peninsula between 
Hood's Canal and Admiralty Inlet as far south as the Case and 
Carr's Inlets, and including Blake and Brainbridge Islands. His 
tribe numbered about five hundred. My knowledge of this period 
is very scanty, and consists mainly of the Indian traditions and 
gleanings from Vancouver's report in his journey around the 
world in 1792. His work is of especial importance, as he tells 
of the Indians before the White man had had any influence over 
them. 

After careful inquiry it has been concluded that Sealth's 
father's name was not Sealth. or as he is usually referred to, 
Sealth the First, but Schweabe.* As to the probable meaning 



* Interview D. T. Denny. 



—10— 



TRIBES 


STOCK 


WHERE LOCATED 


HEAD TRIBE 


Number 


X D W3;TIllSll 


Qol 1Q>I 

oensn 


JDwamish River 


Uwamisn 


1fi2 


— O U rv VV d, Lll I b LI 


1 1 


jroru iviaQison 


4 4 


482 


v O q im q Vi vvrv ion 


a 


Sammamish Lake 


4 4 


100 


4: o KUpctllLilioll 


a 


Green River 


4 4 


50 


(J O u iv cL Li 111 Loll 


t ( 


Dwamish Lake 


4 < 


(?) 

(?) 942 


U O tv udlll LLLLoLL 




White River 


. ( 


( JLiliillLlll 


(< 


Nooksack River 


-L/Ummi 




O O dillloil 


4 4 


Samish River 






Q INTnlrcj^Vilr 

t7 1M UlvSalLtv 


( i 


-Dfcjj.ij.iig iiaiii Jjay 




1050 


10 Skagit 


1 1 


Skflfyiti R.jvpt 

►JHCIg IU 111 V ^J. 


OivaLJ l u 




11 Kikiallu 


i i 








1 — X (J W dill LICbll 


i i 


4( 4 4 


u 




T^Tn Irwn Irea m i <sh 

J. O LI 1\ \ V 11 IV o tL 1 1 1 loll 


i i 


1 4 4 4 


( 




1 4. a 1 1 Vm 
-LTt o ll l cl i l u li 


i i 


4 4 <4 


( 




15 Sakumehu 


a 


(4 4 4 






16 Skwonamish 


; i 


<4 44 


u 




17 ^^nelriwVin 

X 4 X> LL O IV 1 VV 11 LI 


u 


4 i 4« 


( 




18 Swinami'^Vi 

_i v.j kj vv i ii ex 1 1 1 ijii 


( c 


4 4 4 4 






19 JVLiseek wigwelis 


4 4 


4» «« 


<( 


1300 


20 Sn on Ornish 


i i 


SkvwaTrnsh Rivpr 

kj iv v vv a 1 1 1 ijii -i_ v. i v \^ i 


Sn r»Vi i~»m i eh 

O JLL KJ LLU 111 1 o IX 




21 SnolrwaJmn 

fajl kj UulV VV til ill 14. 


i i 


OllUfc[ UdliilltJ 


Snoc[ualmu 




22 Stoluts wamisL. 


i c 


4 4 4 4 


. 4 




23 Sktahlejun 


il 


44 (( 


, { 




24 Skihwamish 


I 4 


4 < 4 ( 


4 < 




25 Kwehltiiiamjsh. 


4 4 


H i( 


u 


1 7on 


26 Puyallupahmish 


4 4 


Pn 1 1 n r» T-Jivpr» 

1 LlJ/ClilllLJ LlLVCL 


17 Uj dLL Up 




27 Tkwah wamish 


4 4 


( < 4 4 


4 < 




28 Shoniamish 


4 i 


4 4 4 4 


4 4 




29 Niskwalli 


ii 


TVi^lrwa.l 1 1 Rivpt 1 

iv loii vv a/iii ill v ci 


xN Loiv Vv (XI LL 




30 Segwalitssu 


4 


(4 (< 


44 




81 Stailakumamish 


4 4 


4 < 4 4 


4 4 




32 Skwalliamish 


4 4 


4 4 4 1 


44 




33 Shotlemamish 


4 4 


Case Inlet 


44 




34 Sahewamish 


4 4 


TTa m py*s1 v Tnlpt*. 


4 4 




35 Sawamish 


4< 


Totten Inlet 


4 ( 




36 Skwaiaitl 


44 


Eld Inlet 


(< 




37 Slehtsasamish 


I 4 


Budd's Inlet 


4 4 




38 Nuseahtl 




Henderson Inlet 


1 4 


1200 


39 Skokoraish 


4 4 


Hoods Canal 


Skokomish 


290 


40 Skwakanamish 


4 4 


Case Inlet 


4 4 


(?) 


41 Chemakum 


1 ( 


Port Towsend 


Chemakum 


90 


42 Klallam 




Okeo River 


Klallam 


926 


43 Makah 


nutka 


Cape Flattery 


Makah 


596 



of the name there is much uncertainty as the Indians have no 
definite knowledge of the origin of their names, but it is prob- 
able that it refers to some ancestor, natural object, or event in 
the past, which has been forgotten. The real reason why Sealth 
was not called Schweabe seems to be deep-rooted and found in 
their religious belief. J. G. Swan throws some light on the sub- 
ject in his history of the Northwest Coast, where he says: "It 
is well known that the Indians north of the Columbia change 
their names when a relative dies, from the belief that the spirits 
of the dead will return on hearing these familiar names."* 
Speaking of the Indians of New England, Douglas in his sum- 
mary of the history of the British Possessions in North America, 
published in 1747, admirably says: "There is not the same rea- 
son for preserving the names of the countries, nations, tribes, 
mountains and rivers as there is for preserving the Greek, 
Roman and other more modern names of such things in Europe. 
The Indians have no civil or classical history to require it. The 
Indians change their personal names upon the most trifling 
occasions."** 

Vancouver was the first one of the early navigators to ex- 
plore and name the waters known as Puget Sound, Admiralty 
Inlet, and Hood's Canal. It is very unfortunate that he did 
not inquire into the names of the different tribes and their 
chiefs. Undoubtedly referring to the Suquamish, he says: 
"Towards noon, I went ashore to the village point (south end of 
Brainbridge Island) for the purpose of observing the latitude; 
on which occasion I visited the village, if it may be so dignified, 
as it appeared the most lowly and meanest of its kind. The best 
of the huts were poor and miserable, constructed something after 
the fashion of a soldier's tent, by two cross sticks about five 
feet high, connected at each end by a ridge-pole from one to the 
other, over some of which was thrown a coarse kind of mat, over 
others a few loose branches of trees, shrubs and grass; none, 
however, appeared to be constructed for protecting them, either 
against the heat of the summer, or the inclemency of the winter. 
In them were hung up to be cured by the smoke of the fire they 
kept constantly burning, clams, mussels and a few other kind of 
fish, seemingly intended for the winter's subsistence. The 
clams perhaps were not all reserved for that purpose, as we 
frequently saw them strung and worn about the neck, which as 
inclination directed, were eaten two, three, or a half dozen 
at a time. Their station did not appear to have been preferred 



* J. G. Swan, History of the Northwest Coast, p. 189. ** p. 191. 

—12— 



for the purpose of fishing, and we saw few of the people sc 
employed; nearly the whole of the inhabitants belonging to the 
village, which consisted of about eighty or one hundred men, 
women and children, were busily engaged like swine, rooting up 
this beautiful, verdant meadow in quest of a species of wild 
onion, and two other roots, which, in appearance and taste, 
greatly resembled the saranna, particularly the largest. The 
collecting of these roots was most likely the object which at- 
tracted them to this spot; they all seemed to gather them with 
much avidity, and to preserve them with great care, most prob- 
ably for making the paste I have already mentioned. These 
people varied in no essential point from the nations we had 
seen since our entering the straits. Their person was equally 
ill made, and as much besmeared with oil and different colored 
paints, particularly with red ochre, and a sort of shining chaffy 
mica, very ponderous, and in color much resembling black lead; 
they likewise possessed more ornaments, especially such as 
were made of copper, the article most valued and esteemed 
among them. 

"One evening some of the canoes were observed passing 
from the village to the opposite shore. In the morning they 
came back accompanied by several large canoes, containing 
near eighty persons, who after ceremoniously paddling round 
the ships came alongside without the least hesitation, and con- 
ducted themselves with the utmost propriety. The principal 
number of these evidently belonged to the other side of the inlet; 
they were infinitely more cleanly than our neighbors; their ca- 
noes were of different form; they were cut off square at each 
end."* These latter were evidently the Dwamish tribe. He 
also mentioned two men who looked as if they had been chiefs. 
One of these was undoubtedly Chief Schweabe. Furthermore, 
he says that the only domesticated animal that they possess is 
the dog and of these they have a large number. They are like 
the Pomeranian dog and shorn as closely as the sheep are in 
England. He also stated that they possessed woolen garments, 
but could not get any idea where they obtained the wool. They 
had bows and arrows, skins and implements which they traded 
away for various articles. They brought a deer to the ship, 
which the whole village and the dogs helped to catch, and ob- 
tained a piece of copper less than a foot square for it, which 
they gladly accepted.** 

* G. Vancouver's Voyage to the North Pacific Ocean and Round 
the World, p. 261. 

** G. Vancouver's Voyage to the North Pacific Ocean and Round 
the World in 1792, p. 263. 



—13— 



Vancouver's history has been quoted at length as it gives 
such an excellent description of the Suquamish, Dwamish and 
other tribes at the latter part of the eighteenth century. 

The Indian account of Vancouver tallies well with the time 
and place, where he says that he anchored off an island called 
Brainbridge and a heap of rocks called Blakely.* 

Tradition gives it that Schweabe was constantly on the war- 
path against the Skokomish on the west, who occupied both 
sides of Hood's Canal, and against the Chemakum on the north- 
west, who were encroaching upon his territory around the Old- 
Man-House. Furthermore, he coveted the land of the Dwamigh 
tribe. It is said that he reduced the Chemakum and Dwamish 
greatly in number. 

He was also a great builder and encouraged the art of carv- 
ing. He built large boats and went as far north as Vancouver 
Island. Mrs. D. S. Maynard made the statement that Sealth 
had told her that his father had built a large house on Blake 
Island similar in plan to the Old-Man-House. This house was 
used rather for a camping place than for a potlatch house. 
There is also tradition that he was of enormous strength and 
could drive an arrow through the thickest boat. 

He married Scholitza, a daughter of the chief of the Dwam- 
ish tribe, and from this union sprang Sealth, who was destined to 
play such an important part among both the Indians and the 
Whites. 

CHAPTER in. 

SEALTH 'S EARLY LIFE AND MARRIAGE. 

Sealth was born about the year 1786. This is the age given 
on the monument erected by the pioneers in 1890. after they 
had made a careful inquiry among the survivors of his tribe. 

As to the place of his birth, opinions differ. The Indians 
interviewed have unanimously stated that he was born at the 
Old-Man-House, but Mrs. D. S. Maynard positively declares 
that Sealth told her that he was born on Blake Island, one of 
the camping grounds of his father's tribe. He pointed out the 
place of his birth and showed her the ruins of the house built 
by his father. 

* J. A. Costello, The Siwash, p. 18. 

—14— 



There is little or nothing known of his childhood, but un- 
doubtedly his training was the same as that of other Indian 
boys, which consisted of learning to shoot the arrow and handle 
the tomahawk. 

It has been stated by Bancroft and others, that he remem- 
bered Vancouver and his expedition in 1792. It is not unrea- 
sonable to believe that a boy of six years would remember such 
an extraordinary occurrence. And who can tell but that some 
act of kindness upon the part of Vancouver towards Sealth or 
his father may have converted this boy of tender years into a 
life long friend of the White man. 

The first time that Sealth comes into prominence is at the 
age of twenty, when the Mountain Indians threatened to invade 
the territory of the salt water tribes. 

"Information had reached the salt water tribes that a large 
force of the mountain tribes intended to come down the Green 
and White rivers in canoes and inaugurate their attack at night. 
Sealth organized a band of warriors, and the day before the 
raid was expected they went up the river to a place on White 
river, near where John Fountain now lives above Black river 
bridge, and where the bluff on one side reaches to the rivei 
edge. The river here makes a short bend, and the current is 
very swift. A little below the bend a large fir tree standing 
on the bank was felled in such a way that it reached across 
the river and lay only a few inches above water, so that no 
canoe could go under without upsetting. The work of felling 
the tree was done with rude axes, some made of stone, and it 
took the band nearly the whole day to bring it down and get 
it into position, which was finally accomplished before sunset. 
Sealth then ambushed his warriors armed with bows and arrows, 
lances, tomahawks, and knives, on either side of the stream, 
and confidently awaited the invaders. 

"As soon as it was dusk five large canoes loaded with one 
hundred selected warriors started down stream, and as there 
was a strong current it was not long before they fell into the 
trap. The leading canoes were successively swamped before 
the occupants could realize the nature of the obstruction. The 
cries of their unfortunate companions, however, enabled those 
in the last two canoes to reach the shore before coming to the 
log. In the meantime thirty of the occupants of the leading 
canoes were either drowned, killed or captured by Sealth's war- 
riors, and those who reached shore in safety betook themselves 

—15— 



up the river again, and their account of the disaster which had 
befallen their companions so discouraged the remainder of the 
expedition that they retired to their mountain homes."* 

When Sealth returned, a grand council of the tribes was called, 
composed of the chiefs of the different tribes that had been 
threatened. He was elected head chief of the six tribes and 
the former chiefs in turn became sub-chiefs. One or two of the 
tribes objected, but he organized an expedition and made a 
tour of the tribes prepared to give battle if necessary; he did, 
however, subdue them by diplomacy, a policy which he followed 
for the remainder of his life. 

i 

Sealth had two successive wives and several concubines. 
There is nothing known about them, not even their names. The 
only reference that we have was given by Kickesimla ( Angeline) , 
the only child of his first wife. She claimed that her father 
was twenty-five years old when she was born and that her 
mother died while she was very young. Sealth was again mar- 
ried, and by his second wife had five children, two boys and 
three girls. 

CHAPTER IV. 
CHIEFTAINSHIP. 

There are different opinions as to how Sealth became chief 
of the six tribes. It should, however, be remembered that he 
inherited his father's ability, and was his legal successor in 
the Suquamish tribe. Furthermore, he was a firm friend of 
the Dwamish, the tribe of his mother, and had spent most of 
his early life among them. 

According to Gibbs, the eldest son inherits the position 
and honor of his father unless for some reason he is incapable 
or unworthy of holding it; in that case it is said that the tribe 
sometimes sets him aside for the next. "If a chief's sons are 
too young his brother or next relative succeeds him and con- 
tinues till his death, when the office reverts to the son of the 
elder. It is not unusual to find men living as chiefs over the 
mother's tribe instead of the father's. It does not appear that 
the title in such cases descends in the female line. There is no 
class of warriors and no distinction between war chiefs and 
peace chiefs."* 



* S. F. Coombs. Post-Intelligencer, March 26, 1893. 

* G. Gibbs, D. M. ; in W. H. Dall's Tribes of the Extreme North- 
west, p. 185. 

—16— 



In fact the political organization is weak. In their councils 
every one has a right of speaking and assent or dissent is as- 
certained by acclamation or silence. The decision of all ques- 
tions of moment depend upon the will of the majority inter- 
ested. * 

The tribe, which is the smallest political unit, is a democ- 
racy pure and simple. It represents the same ancestor, the same 
language, the same customs, the same burial ground, and the 
same chief. The chief has not much power and cannot com- 
mand great respect unless he possesses some natural abilities, 
or great wealth, which he usually gives away at the potlatches 
in order to gain the good will of the tribes. 

Besides the chiefs, the tamahnous, or medicine men, have 
considerable influence by virtue of their office, and they play an 
important part in the ceremonial incantations which accompany 
proceedings of general interest. 

Reverting to Chief Sealth, there is no doubt but that he had 
accomplished some great deed which had placed him high in the 
estimation of his people. 

It has already been referred to that he made a successful 
expedition against the mountain tribes and was elected head 
chief of the six tribes. According to the story of the Indians 
told to Samuel F. Coombs, the following chiefs became sub- 
chiefs: Kitsap, Seattle Curley, Tecumseh, Salmon Bay Curley, 
and Lake John. It appears that only three of the tribes were 
willing to abide by the decision of the council. Sealth had to 
organize a band of his faithful warriors and make his authority 
respected. In this he showed himself a diplomat, gained over 
the rebellious tribes and took a number of hostages. 

After Chief Sealth had consolidated the tribes and enforced 
his authority, it is said that he strengthened his influence over 
them by giving grand potlatches, inviting not only his own, but 
other tribes, by protecting them from the raids of hostile tribes 
from both north and south, and by concluding treaties of friend- 
ship with many tribes. * 

It may safely be said that Sealth obtained and held his posi- 
tion by his success in war, by his wisdom and prudence in 
council, and by his ability to appreciate and value the new 
ideas that were constantly being brought in by civilized people. 



* G. Gibbs, D. M.; in W. H. Dall's Tribes of the Extreme North- 
west, pp. 185-6. 

* Seattle Post-Intelligencer, March 26, 1893. 

—17— 



CHAPTER V. 



TREATY WITH THE UNITED STATES. 

On the 21st of January, 1855, there assembled at Mukilteo, 
or Point Elliott, about two thousand three hundred Indians. 
Governor Stevens had previously notified those east of the 
Sound that a council would be held and a treaty made with them. 
At this council the following head chiefs were present: Sealth, 
chief of the Dwamish, Suquamish and other tribes; Patkanim, 
chief of the Snoqualmoo, Snohomish and other tribes; Goliah, 
chief of the Skagits and other allied tribes; Chowitshoot, chief 
of the Lummi and other tribes. The head chiefs took seats in 
front on the ground; the sub-chiefs next, and the various tribes 
behind them in separate groups. 

On the 21st Governor Stevens arrived and addressed them 
on the following day, Colonel Shaw acting as interpreter. Short 
speeches were also made by Mr. Mason and Colonel M. T. Sim- 
mons. 

Before the treaty was read the Indians sang a mass after 
the Roman Catholic form and recited a prayer. 

Then Governor Stevens asked: "Does any one object to 
what I have said? Does my venerable friend Sealth object? I 
want Sealth to give his heart to me and his people." 

Sealth responded: "I look upon you as my father. All the 
Indians have the same good feeling toward you and will send it 
on the paper to the Great Father. All of them — men, old men, 
women and children — rejoice that he has sent you take care of 
them. My mind is like yours; I don't want to say more. My 
heart is always good towards Dr. Maynard; I want always to 
get medicine from him." 

Governor Stevens resumed: "My friend Sealth has put me 
in mind of one thing which I had forgotten. You shall have a 
doctor to care for your bodies. Now, my friends, I want you, as 
Sealth has spoken well, to say so by three cheers." Which were 
given. Addresses were also made by other head chiefs. 

The treaty was then read and interpreted, and the Gov- 
ernor asked them if it was satisfactory. There being no ob- 
jections to it, it was first signed by the Governor and then by 
the chiefs and sub-chiefs. 

On the 23d they reassembled for the purpose of receiving 
presents. Before the presents were distributed Sealth brought 

—18— 



a white flag and presented it to the Governor, saying: "Now 
by this we make friends and put away all bad feelings, if we 
ever had any. We are the friends of the Americans. All the 
Indians are of the same mind. We look upon you as our father. 
We will never change our minds, but as you have been to see 
us, we will always be the same. Now! Now! do you send this 
paper of our hearts to the Great Chief. That is all I have to 
say." * 

A brief abstract of the treaty is herewith given: 

Article 1. The Indians cede the land to the United States, 
comprising the present counties of King, part of Kitsap, Sno- 
homish, Skagit, Whatcom, Island and San Juan. 

Art. 2. Reserves the amount of two sections, or twelve 
hundred and eighty acres, surrounding the small bight at the 
head of Port Madison, called by the Indians Nooschkum; two 
sections on the east side by Fidalgo Island; the island called 
Chah-choosen, situated in the Lummi River. 

Art. 3. Reserves one township of land on the northeastern 
shore of Port Gardner, for the purpose of establishing thereon 
an agricultural and industrial school. 

Art. 4. Specifies that within one year after the ratification 
of this treatey, the said tribes agree to remove and settle upon 
the reservations, or sooner if means are furnished them. 

Art. 5. Gives them the right of fishing at any accustomed 
place, provided that they shall not take shell fish from any 
beds staked or cultivated by citizens. 

Art. 6. In consideration of the above cession, the United 
States agree to pay to the said tribes and bands the sum of 
one hundred fifty thousand dollars, in the following manner — ■ 
that is to say: For the first year after the ratification hereof, 
fifteen thousand dollars; for the next two years, twelve thous- 
and dollars each year; for the next four years, seven thousand 
five hundred dollars each year; for the next five years, six thous- 
and dollars each year; and for the last five years, four thousand 
two hundred and fifty dollars each year. 

Art. 7. The President may hereafter, when in his opinion 
the interests of the Territory shall require and the welfare of 
the said Indians be promoted, remove them from either or all 



* Hazard Stevens' Life of Gen. I. I. Stevens, pp. 463-6. 
—19— 



of the special reservations hereinbefore made to the said general 
reservation, or such other suitable place within said Territory 
as he may deem fit, on remunerating them for their improve- 
ments and expenses of such removal, or may consolidate them 
with other friendly tribes or bands. 

Art. 8. The annuities of the aforesaid tribes and bands shall 
not be taken to pay the debts of individuals. 

Art. 9. The said tribes and bands acknowledge their de- 
pendence on the government of the United States, and promise 
to be friendly with all the citizens thereof, and they pledge 
themselves to commit no depredations on the property of said 
citizens. Nor will they make war on any other tribe except in 
self-defense, but will submit all matters of difference between 
them and the other Indians to the government of the United 
States or its agent for decision and abide thereby. 

Art. 10. The above tribes and bands are desirous to ex- 
clude from their reservations the use of ardent spirits, and to 
prevent the people from drinking the same. If any one tres- 
passes, his or her proportion of the annuities will be withheld 
from him or her for such time as the President may determine. 

Art. 11. The said tribes and bands agree to free all slaves 
now held by them and not to purchase or acquire others here- 
after. 

Art. 12. The said tribes and bands further agree not to 
trade at Vancouver's Island or elsewhere out of the dominions 
of the United States nor shall foreign Indians be permitted to 
reside in their reservations without consent of the superintend- 
ent or agent. 

Art. 13. To enable the said Indians to remove to and settle 
upon* their aforesaid reservations, the United States agrees to 
pay them the sum of fifteen thousand dollars. 

Art. 14. United States further agrees to establish at the 
general agency for the district of Puget Sound, within one year 
from the ratification hereof, and to support for a period of 
twenty years an agricultural and industrial school, providing 
it with suitable instructors; and also to employ a physician to 
reside at the said central agency. 

Art. 15. This treaty shall be obligatory on the contracting 
parties as soon as the same shall be ratified by the President 
and Senate of the United States. 

—20— 



The treaty was not ratified by the Senate until March, 1859, 
on account of the Indian war and misrepresentations against 
these tribes. 

The Indians had certainly a just cause of complaint against 
the government which had appropriated their land and not paid 
them for it according to the treaty. 

Finally, however, Colonel M. T. Simmons was empowered to 
visit the different reservations, conclude the treaties, and ar- 
range for disbursement of annuities and provisions. It was 
in May, 1858, that he set out on his mission. The first place he 
visited was Fort Kitsap, where about four hundred Indians 
awaited him. He addressed them briefly in Chinook, laying 
stress upon the intoxicants used by them and the effects of the 
same. After he had finished, Sealth voiced the sentiments of 
people in the following words: "I am not a bad man; I want 
you to understand what I say: I do not drink rum; neither does 
New-E-Chis, and we continually advise our people not to do so. 

"I am and always have been a friend to the whites. I listen 
to what Mr. Page says to me, and I do not steal, nor do any of 
my people steal from the whites. 

"Oh, Mr. Simmons, why do not our papers come back to 
us? You always say they will come back, but they do not come. 
I fear that we are forgotten or that we are to be cheated out of 
our land. 

"I have been very poor and hungry all winter and am very 
sick now. In a little while I will die. I should like to be paid 
for my lands before I die. Many of my people died during the 
cold winter without getting their pay. When I die my people 
will be very poor — they will have no property, no chief and no 
one to talk for them. You must not forget them, Mr. Simmons, 
when I am gone. 

"We are ashamed when we think of the Puyallups, as they 
have got their papers. They fought against the whites 
whilst we, who have never been angry with them, get nothing. 
When we get our pay we want it in money. The Indians are 
not bad. It is the mean white men that are bad to them. If 
any person writes that we do not want our papers they tell lies. 

"Oh, Mr. Simmons, you see I am sick; I want you to write 
quickly to the Great Chief what I say. I am done." * 



* J. A. Costello, The Siwash, p. 112. 

—21— 



CHAPTER VI. 



OLD-MAN-HOUSE. 

The history of the Old-Man-House, or as the Indians called 
it, Tsu-Cub, possesses peculiar interest, which distinguishes it 
from almost all other Indian architecture in the New World. 
If it were possible to unravel fully the history of the people who 
built and frequented this house, we would undoubtedly have a 
history as full of romance as the story of Troy, so beautifully 
described by Homer. 

This magnificent house was situated at Port Madison 
Reservation on the beach of the northwest side of the Agate 
Passage, just where the water separates from Admiralty Inlet 
to form Brainbridge Island — it is about twenty-five kilometers 
northwest of Seattle. It was an ideal location for an Indian 
village, only a short distance of about one thousand feet across 
Agate Passage to Brainbridge Island on the south; on the north 
and west was land and on the east the mighty arm of the Pa- 
cific. Besides they could take advantage of the incoming tide 
and float southward to any destination with rapidity and return 
with the outgoing tide. 

The ground-plan of this house is still traceable, although 
there is only one post standing; all the others have rotted off 
where they entered the surface of the ground, and then been 
washed away by the tide or burned by the Indians ; but that part 
which remained in the ground is in perfect preservation, and 
shows plainly the location of the house. 

In front, the outline of the house measures about nine 
hundred feet, in the rear a little less, as the house curved some- 
what to correspond with the beach. In width, it measures about 
sixty feet, with the exception of a short distance at each end 
of the house, where it measures only fifty feet. At the north 
end, the rear end of a few of the rafters rested upon the bank. 
In height, it was twelve feet in front and between eight and nine 
in the rear. 

It covered an area of about an acre and a quarter, contain- 
ing about forty apartments, each entirely separated from the 
other by a partition of boards or planks split from cedar, held 
together by sticks fastened at the top with withes. 

The total number of posts is given by Gibbs to have been 
seventy-four, which is about the correct number for the corner 

—22— 



posts.* The size of the posts differ; in front they were about 
fifteen feet long, two or four feet wide and ten to twelve inches 
thick; in the rear they were twelve feet long with the same 
width and thickness as those in front. All the posts were notched 
at the top and placed in position with the bark side facing the 
interior of the house and tamped solidly until they could sup- 
port the great weight that rested upon them. 

The rafters consisted of round cedar logs, hewed off at the 
upper side so as to make it level for the room. They were about 
sixty-five feet long with a diameter of twenty-four or more 
inches in the large end and about twelve in the small end. These 
rafters had also a post in the middle to support them. 

The roof was covered with cedar boards (shakes), which 
were laid on planks that rested on the rafters. 

The outside walls of the building, like the roof, consisted 
of split cedar planks which were put up similar to the par- 
titions. 

In each apartment was one or more fireplaces, which were 
generally made of stone and raised a little from the ground. 
There was an opening in the roof through which the smoke 
escaped. This opening could be closed when desired. 

Each apartment contained several rooms separated from 
each other by mattings suspended from the celing, and in sev- 
eral of these rooms were raised bunks constructed around the 
walls for beds, on which were used as bedding, mats. On each 
end of the apartment was a door which hung on wooden hinges. 

The chief apartment, occupied by Sealth, was built very 
strong; the wall in front consisted of very heavy posts with 
several openings, and a contrivance to place in front of the 
door in case of an attack by unfriendly tribes. In a like man- 
ner Kitsap's apartment was fortified. 

Furthermore, on every corner post in front of the chief's 
and sub-chief's apartments, was carved the figure of the big 
"Thunderbird" in the proportions in which it had fixed itself 
in the minds of that particular tribe; and also a grotesque fig- 
ure of a man, about half size, naked, and with bow and arrow. 
This latter figure was supposed to represent the ancestor of 
the tribe. There were also smaller carvings on the other front 
posts. 



* H. A. Goldsboroug-h; Dall's Tribes of the Northwest, p. 215. 
—24— 



This massive house of the Indians of Puget Sound was 
over thirty times as large as the houses built by the mighty 
nation of the Iroquois, which were .according to Morgan's de- 
scription, from fifty to one hundred feet long and about seven- 
teen feet wide. 

As to the time when this house was built, there are various 
conjectures; some claim that it was constructed about the mid- 
dle of the eighteenth century by one of the tribes of the Dwam- 
ish Confederacy; others think that it was built in the begin- 
ning of the nineteenth century. The latter opinion is undoubt- 
edly correct as Vancouver does not make any mention of the 
house. But the best evidence, perhaps, that can be adduced is 
the great mass of crushed, broken and roasted clam shells that 
are found to a considerable depth over every portion of the 
beach, even as far out as deep water. 

An Indian whose name was Sub-Qualth has given the fol- 
lowing information: "In the Tsu-Cub lived eight great chiefs 
and their people. Space in the big house was allotted each 
chief and his people and this was religiously consecrated to them 
and never encroached upon by others. To old Chief Sealth was 
given the position of honor; Chief Kitsap next, Sealth's aged 
father ranked third, and Tsu-Lu-Cub came forth. These four 
Sub-Qualth remembered as they represented one half of the 
Tsu-Cub. The next four Sub-Qualth did not remember, but his 
father, who was a cousin of Chief Sealth, had told him their 
names. There was Bec-kl-Ius, Ste-ach-e-cum, Oc-ub and Lach-e- 
ma-sub."* 

That the Old-Man-House was originally built for a Pot- 
latch House there is no doubt, but it was also used as a resi- 
dence for part of the year. It was chiefly used for that when 
the whites came. 

Directly across from the Old-Man-House is located at Point 
Agate, perhaps, the only permanent record of these tribes. Upon 
the flat surface of the rock is engraved characters of different 
descriptions whose meaning neither the whites nor the Indians 
have been able to interpret. This engraving is said to have 
been done by the Tamahnous Man. 



CHAPTER VII. 

REMINISCENCES OF THE WHITES. 

It is said that Sealth was rather below the medium height, 
round-shouldered, with spare limbs, his head was large and 



* J. A. Costello, The Siwash. p. 19. 

—25— 



covered with long black hair; and although his features bore 
the prominence of Indian character, still when speaking, his 
countenance beamed with an expression of pleasant dignity, 
rarely met with among the race. His dress was simple, but 
cleanly; usually consisting of a shirt and pantaloons of some 
strong fabric, with a blanket thrown loosely over his shoul- 
ders, while a cone-shaped native hat nearly covered his long 
locks, and moccasins for his feet completed his attire.* 

D. T. Denny gave me the following narrative: "On the 
25th of September, 1851, we found Seattle (Sealth) encamped 
at what is now West Seattle. Here Captain Fay arranged with 
his people to fish for him. I was very favorably impressed 
with Seattle as a man of more than ordinary ability, both 
physically and mentally. His head was not flattened by far 
as much as the ordinary Indian's. His chest was full, and 
that gave him considerable lung power. I heard him lecturing 
his people at a distance of over half a mile. The Indians 
living alongside of me could hear and understand him. During 
the time that they camped along side of us one of Seattle's 
wives died, and A. A. Denny made a coffin of split cedar. 
When they came to put the body into the coffin, they had 
wrapped it up in so many blankets that it would not go in 
and they had to take some off. He had two slaves; when the 
whites came to give them their freedom, the one went home, 
but the other chose to stay with him. It was a common thing 
to make a raid upon a tribe and enslave both men and women. 
Seattle, however, had bought his slaves and not taken them 
by conquest. The Indians, before the whites came, were very 
chaste, but whisky and unprincipled white men caused most 
of the trouble/'* 

The friendship that Sealth formed with Dr. Maynard was 
life-long. During the Indian war of 1855-6, Sealth remained a 
steadfast friend to the whites and never betrayed their interest. 
Before the war broke out. he had been asked by the citizens 
to reside in Seattle as a protection against the unfriendly 
tribes; but when he found out that he was suspected as a 
spy. he quietly moved away to Port Madison and remained 
there until the end of the war. He kept himself informed of the 
movements of Leschi and his Seattle followers. Mrs. Maynard 
lets it be known that she made a trip to Seattle during the 
night, a few days before the attack of Leschi, and informed 
Captain Gainsworth. commander cf the U. S. warship "'Decatur," 



* Seattle Post-Intelligeneer. Jan. 1, 1SS4. 

* Interview. D T. Denny. 

—26— 



that Leschi was about to attack the town. She was disguised 
as an Indian woman and Angeline and Hattie Kitsap rowed her 
to Seattle, as only Indian women were allowed to go there.* 

There is some doubt in the minds of some of the settlers 
as to Mrs. Maynard's story, but Mrs. Hanford gave me this 
statement: "I heard Mrs. Maynard and Angeline, in my house, 
speak about this trip some years after it had occurred." 

It is said that Seattle, on hearing that the town was called 
by his name, and foreseeing that it would be a disturbance to 
his ghost when he should pass away, made this a ground for 
levying a tax on the citizens while living, taking his pay be- 
forehand for the inconvenience he expected to suffer from the 
use of his name after death. ** 

In 1864 Sealth sat for his first picture, but there is no 
truth in the story that he was intoxicated at the time, as it 
has been reported. 

In 1853, G. G-ibbs reports that the Dwamish and some 
others had small patches of potato grounds, amounting all to- 
gether to, perhaps, thirty acres. It is stated that they raised 
about three thousand bushels. This ground was located at the 
lake fork of the Dwamish River, f 

There were many peculiar customs in vogue among the 
Indians, but they have been described so often that a mere 
mention of them will be given. 

The one that is peculiar to this section of the country is 
the Potlatch, a feast at which a rich person, generally a chief, 
gives away most of his goods to his people, as an evidence of 
his greatness. 

Another custom is the flattening of the head of all children 
of free parents, others not enjoying the privilege. 

On arrival at puberty, "the first prominent event in a 
woman's life is a period of ceremonial observance among these 
Indians as seems to be the case with most savage tribes." $ 

And still another custom is the war dance, but at the arrival 
of the whites it was in reality only an imitation. 

As to the burial of the dead, it was reported by Wilkes 
that when he anchored at Port Orchard he found three canoes 



* Interview, Mrs. D. S. Maynard. ** Yesler's Washington Terri- 
tory, MS. 6; Murphy, Appleton's Journal, 1877. 

f Wilkes, U. S. Exploring Exp. Vol. 4, 479. % George Gibbs. 
—27— 



propped on trees containing the bodies of Indians. It was also 
customary, even after the whites came, to slay the animals 
and the slaves of the dead men. near their place of burial. But 
Sealth did all in his power to put a stop to this eTil practice. 

And another may be mentioned, the Medicine Man, or the 
Tamahnous; Read Admiral Phelps reports that Ma-mouking 
Tamahnous was performed by laying the patient prone upon 
a board on the ground, and while his friends, dressed in fan- 
tastic garb and smeared with paint, drum upon boards, sing, 
dance, shout and howl till wrought to a state of frenzy, and 
the night "becomes hideous*' with their bewildering din; the 
Medicine Man is gravely engaged in walking on his knees over 
the entire body of the patient, frequently stopping to pinch, 
punch, pound and knead with his fists, muttering some incom- 
prehensible incantations all the while, and when the morning 
appears it is not at all surprising to learn that long before the 
ceremony was concluded the patient has departed for the happy 
hunting ground of his fathers. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

SEALTH S LAST YEARS. DEATH AND FUNERAL. 

The last years of the Great Chief were passed at Port 
Madison Reservation, with an occasional visit to Seattle. His 
chief mission seemed to be to encourage his people to abstain 
from intoxicants and obey the laws of the government. 

"In 1866 Seattle's (Sealth's) health began to fail. Month 
after month he grew weaker and weaker till at last he became 
helpless, but his mind was clear, and he fully realized his con- 
dition. Just before he breathed his last the native priest and 
principal men of the tribe gathered about him and he was 
told that he was dying. "It's well.' said he, 'my heart is good. 
I have only one thing to ask and that is for my good friend — 
always my friend — to come to my funeral and shake hands with 
me before I am laid in the ground.' These were the venerable 
old man's last words; he closed his eyes and his spirit departed. 
The event cast a gloom over the whole village. Every member 
of his tribes seemed to be deeply afflicted. But there was none 
of the vociferous howling and humdrum of the medicine man 
so common among all the tribes of the coast on such occasions. 
A messenger vras dispatched to Port Madison to announce the 
death of Seattle, the day the funeral ceremony would take place, 

—28— 



and his last request. At the appointed time Mr. Meigs em- 
barked on board his steamer "Old-Man-House" to pay the last 
mark of respect to his deceased friend. 

"A large concourse of whites and Indians was assembled. 
The sun, at its meridian height, burst through the mist beaming 
upon the mountains that overlooked the ocean rolling between 
the continents, and whose peaks were seen by the ancient voy- 
agers even before the days of Juan de Fuca, The elements were 
in subdued stillness and the vapors curled around distant Rainier 
as if it was shrouded in sympathy with those who so deeply 
deplored the loss of their chieftain. 

"A stalwart native priest arose, and conducted the funeral 
services of the Roman Catholic Church with touching solem- 
nity; and at their conclusion all was still save the hum of the 
insects and the songs of the birds scattered through the lux- 
uriant spring foliage. A moment passed and then another. 
When one of the sub chiefs stood forth, who repeated in meas- 
sured Indian cadence used when discoursing on great events 
the name of "Seattle — Seattle." The deep tangled forest over- 
shadowing the assemblage echo back "Seattle — Seattle" and a 
re-echo came over the dark waters of the bay, answering, "Se- 
attle-attle-attle." As the last sound reverberated the speaker 
continued: 'The spirit of our great chief has gone — gone to the 
good land a great way off. His heart was always good — was 
like the sun, not like the moon, for that is changing. Seattle 
was a great chief, he knew better what was good for us than 
we knew ourselves. But why do I speak? For his son is here 
— he knows best about our good chief — he is his own flesh and 
blood — let him talk.' The young man then stood up and calmly 
said: 'My father's remains lie before us; they are going to 
yonder hill to be buried deep in the earth. Ages ago this mode 
of burial would have appalled us, for the dead bodies of our 
ancestors were elevated on trees, or laid in canoes above the 
ground. But the priest came among us and taught us the 
prayer. We are Christians now. Before he came the Seattles 
were the first in chase and the first to draw the bow and the 
knife in time of war; but the Godly man learned us to build 
good houses; how to cultivate the soil; and how to get money, 
Tike white men. He has told us, too, that^when the Son of God 
was buried in the earth a great stone was rolled over his grave; 
but when God called him to heaven, the stone rolled back, and 
His Son came forth. We know that my father was the last 
great chief of the Seattles. They were his friends— so were 

—29— 



the Indians of other tribes — because he was just to all. In the 
last strife with the whites, my father was threatened because 
he would not fight; but he feared no one but God. Some of the 
Indians made threats . The chief of the Seattles told them that 
when there was cause for shedding blood they would find him 
on the warpath night and day. We are all glad that those 
troubles and times have passed. We are all glad that the great 
chief's hands were never stained with a white man's blood. 
He is now dead, but his name will live in the memory of all 
good Indians, as a wise, brave and Christian chief.' The young 
man then drew from his breast the photograph of Seattle and 
exclaimed: 'The white man will not forget him., for here is 
his picture, made by the lights of the heavens, the older it 
grows, the more it will be prized. When the Seattles are no 
more, their chief will be remembered and revered by the gen- 
erations to come.' The harangues being ended, a breath of 
excitement passed through the congregation as Mr. Meigs 
stepped forward and shook the hands of the old chief in com- 
pliance with his dying prayer. Immediately afterwards the 
procession was formed, and the remains, followed by four hun- 
dred mourners, were borne to the cemetery, where Seattle was 
laid in his sepulchre, beside the woodland that was once his 
hunting ground; and in sight of the. waters of Admiralty Inlet, 
where his canoes once danced on the waves."* 

His grave, however, was left uncared for until 1890, when 
Arthur A. Denny, Hillory Butler, Samuel L. Crawford and others 
united and procured a monument, and on June 28 it was placed 
in position over the grave of the chief. It is of Italian marble and 
stands seven feet high. It is in the shape of a cross and the 
letters "I. H. S." are entwined with ivy. On the one side of the 
monument is the following inscription: 

SEATTLE 

Chief of the Suquamps and Allied Tribes, 
Died, June 7. 1866. 
The Firm Friend of the Whites, and for Him the 
City of Seattle Was Named by 
Its Founders. 

On the other side of the monument are these words: 
Baptismal name, Noah Sealth, 
Age probably 80 years. 

* Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Jan. 1, 1884. 

—30— 



CHAPTER IX. 



SEALTH'S DESCENDANTS. 

Angeline (Kakisimla) is the only one of Sealth's children 
who was well known to the early settlers. 

She was born about the year 1811. Her husband was Dokub 
Cud, half Skagit and half Cowichan. By this marriage Angeline 
had two daughters, Mary and Lizzie. Lizzie married Joe Fos- 
ter, a white man, but he treated her so cruelly that she hanged 
herself, after giving birth to a child, named after the father. 
This boy, Joe Foster, stayed with Angeline up to the time of 
her death. 

Mary married William Deshaw, also a white man, who 
lived at Point Agate. She had a girl who is now living at Port 
Madison as Mrs. C. J. Thompson. 

C. B. Bagley gives the following account of Angeline: "An- 
geline, the daughter of Chief Seattle, will no doubt always fig- 
ure in local history as a personage of no small importance; 
and about whom more or less romantic ideas and interest will 
continue to center . To all the early settlers she was no more 
than the scores of other Klootchmen of pioneer days. Our 
family arrived in Seattle the latter part of 1860. I do not re- 
member that any one in Seattle then kept a household servant, 
but the natives did a great deal of the cutting and carrying in 
of wood, washing of clothes, scrubbing of floors, etc. 

"Angeline was industrious and did the washing for them 
of four households, including our own. She was then thirty-five 
or possibly forty years old — in the prime of life. Her temper 
was not of the best, and if something occurred to ruffle it, she 
was known to take her hands out of the wash water, grab her 
hat and leave the premises in high dudgeon, not waiting for 
leave-taking or pay. Unlike most of her dusky sisters she was 
industrious and virtuous and always retained the respect of the 
white settlers, who were ever ready to give her financial aid 
in the last years when age and infirmities had inacapacitated her 
for work and self-support. Much has been said of her friend- 
liness toward the Whites in early days. No doubt she was, but 
the same was true of most of the Indians who lived on the salt 
water adjacent to the milling towns of pioneer times." 

In a similar strain Professor E. S. Meany writes: — "Twenty- 
five years ago there were not so many boys in Seattle as there 

—31— 



GENEALOGICAL TABLE. 



SEALTH 



First wife 



Kakisimla (Angeline) — Docud Cud 



Lizzie-Joe Foster 



Joe Foster 



Mary-William Deshaw 



Second wife 



George-Wife 



Jim-Wife 



Moses (living-) 



Girl 



Girl 



Girl 



Ina Mary-C. J. Thompson 




Lulu-J. Sikeman 






Lea 






Will Allen 




Gladys 




Ina 






Chester 




Charlie 




Blanche 



are now, but those who were here had their usual run of mis- 
chievous pranks which they enjoy relating to each other now 
that they have taken their places in the business and professional 
life of the city. One invariable recollection is the way the boys 
used to plague Old Angeline by yelling, "Pooh, Angeline." She 
would at once give chase, swearing in English and throwing 
rocks with rather dangerous accuracy. As the years rolled on 
the Indian's form became bent and feeble, the boys grew larger 
and their hearts experienced a change. They began to show 
her kindnesses and after that it was always a 'Klahow-yah, 
Angeline?' (How are you, Angeline?) and the respectful salu- 
tation was invariably returned with a plaintive tone that seemed 
like a sad echo from the wilderness. 

"Many stories were published to the effect that Angeline 
protected the Whites during the Indian War of 1855-6. She was 
painted as the western Pocahontas. No one wished to rob the 
old soul of one particle of glory, but, in the interest of history, 
two of her best friends — Arthur A. Denny and Henry L. Yesler — 
left statements to the effect that there was no truth in those fan- 
ciful yarns. 

"Her bent figure and wrinkled face spoke of the forest and 
the snows. She was a quaint figure in the city's early history. 
She has gone. No other will take her place." She departed 
May 31, 1896. 

Angeline's half brother, James Sealth, had a son who is 
living — he is a dwarf and the pet of his race. 

CHAPTER X. 

WHITE MAN'S TRIBUTE. 

In 1852, when the pioneers filed the plat of their new town, 
they unanimously chose the name of Seattle (Sealth). It is said 
that Dr. Maynard suggested the name, but it is not known posi- 
tively. At any rate the settlers wanted their town to have a 
different name from that of other towns on the coast and the 
Indian name of the place "Zechalalitch" was entirely out of the 
question. 

Sealth was always welcomed by the citizens of Seattle. 
Every pioneer felt that the Old Chief had been true not only in 
words but in deeds. Every thoughtful person realized that the 
Indians had been wronged, their land had been taken away for 
a nominal consideration, their freedom curtailed, their women 

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appropriated and it was only a matter of time until the race 
would entirely disappear. 

But, as it has already been referred to, the pioneers did not 
forget Sealth and his people, and in 1890 erected a monument 
on his grave. "That grave and the beautiful monument will 
become more and more a Mecca for the lovers of history as this 
city grows in years and importance."* 



BIBLIOGRAPHY. 

Bancroft, H. H. History of the Pacific Northwest. (Vol. 
2-31.) 

Costello, J. A. The Siwash, Their Life, Legends and Tales. 
Dall, W. H. Tribes of the Extreme Northwest. 
Eleventh Census of the United States: Indians. 

Portrait of Princess Angeline. 
Daughter of Chief Seattle, (P. 614.) 
Port Madison Reservation, (P. 613.) 
"Essays on Life and Works of Isaac Ingalls Stevens.": 

(The Seattle Times, 1902.) 
"Good Chief Seattle.": Seattle Post-Intelligencer. 

(March 26, 1893.) 
(January 1, 1884.) 
New Years Souvenir Edition, 1901. 
Indian Tribes of Washington Territory, (P. 402-486.) 
Leighton, Mrs. C. C: Life at Puget Sound. 
Meany, E. S. The Argus, (December 21, 1901.) 
Morse.: Appleton's Journal, 1877. 
"Old-Man-House Village.": The Seattle Telegraph. 

(August 19, 1894.) 

Phelps, T. S.: Rear Admiral U. S. Navy: 
"Reminiscences of Seattle," 

The U. S. Service, (November, 1902.) 
Reports of Explorations and Surveys from the Mississippi 
to the Pacific Coast, 1853-4. 

Schoolcraft, R. H.: Indians of Puget Sound, Wash. Terri- 
tory. (Page 598.) 
Seammon, C. M.: Old Seattle and His Tribe. 

Overland Monthly. (1870, 279-302.) 



* E. S. Meany. 



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CHAPTER XIV. 



RAID ON INDEPENDENCE AND INCIDENTS OF THE WAR 
ON THE. BORDER. 

At the commencement of the war there was much 
bitterness of feeling between the Proslavery men of Mis- 
souri and the Free-State men of Kansas. For several 
years prior to the war a man from Kansas, if known to 
be a Free-State man from that Territory, could not with 
safety travel through some of the western border counties 
of Missouri. He was liable to be abused or injured and 
his property injured or destroyed. In some instances, 
Free-State men, or supposed Free-State men, had their 
wagon-covers cut up, their wagon spokes cut out, and 
their horses shot. In ordinary conversations a Free- 
State man dared not assert the dignity of his manhood in 
maintaining his own side of a question, particularly if it 
were a political question, without danger of personal 
injury or insult. 

In Border-Ruffian times organized bands of Proslavery 
men from Missouri went into Kansas and robbed and 
plundered the Free-State men of their property, and were 
thought none the less of at home for doing so. A man 
sold a horse on the Public Square at Independence at 
auction, was asked in regard to the title, and replied that 
he had a Kansas title, which was regarded as good, for 
the reason that a citizen of Kansas dared not come into 
the county and contest the title or claim his property. 

175 



THE CIVIL WAR ON THE BORDER. 



When the war commenced and the Kansas volunteers 
were organized, they remembered the ^omineellng'spTrTu 
of the Proslavery men, the indignities to which the Free- 
State men had been subjected when they crossed the line 
into Missouri, and how they had been robbed and plun- 
dered of their property in Kansas. 

In the latter part of September, 1861, Colonel C. R. 
Jennison, of the Seventh Kansas Cavalry, was temporarily 
stationed at Kansas City, with his regiment, which was 
recently organized. In the contests between the Free- 
State and Proslavery men he had been shot and wounded 
near to death by them in Southern Kansas. His name 
had figured prominently in the newspapers for several 
years before the war as a leader of the Free-State men in 
Southern Kansas. His regiment was therefore made up 
of men who participated or sympathized with him and 
Montgomery in their contests with the Proslavery men 
during the Kansas troubles, and were anxious to get even 
on old scores. Up to the latter part of September, 1 86 1 , no 
Federal troops had been stationed at Independence, and 
none had been there except Major Prince's command of 
Regular cavalry and infantry that marched down there 
the day after the Rock Creek affair, and marched back to 
Kansas City the next day. The domineering spirit of the 
secessionists had been intensified during the summer, for 
the rebel armies had been successful in several engage- 
ments in Virginia ; Price's and McCulloch's armies had 
compelled General Lyon's army to withdraw from Spring- 
field after the battle of Wilson Creek ; and General Price 
had marched almost without resistance from Springfield 
to Lexington, and laid siege to and captured that place. 
While these important events had been taking place 
mainly in favor of the secessionists, the Unionists of 
Jackson County, largely in the minority, were persecuted, 
spotted, and several killed, among them Rev. Samuel 
Stewart, a minister of the Old Methodist Church. 



RAID ON INDEPENDENCE. 



The Union men looked around for relief against these 
outrages, and one William Miles, City Marshal of Inde- 
pendence, and other Union men of the county, went to 
Kansas City and reported the situation to Colonel Jenni- 
son. After some preparation the colonel made a rapid 
march from Kansas City, and arrived at Independence, 
and had the town surrounded by seven o'clock in the 
morning. Very few of the citizens knew any thing of his 
approach until they saw his soldiers marching in on nearly 
every street. The secessionists, who had long been in 
the habit of acting in an overbearing manner towards 
Union men, were greatly surprised, and quickly com- 
menced hunting hiding-places. It has been said, and 
perhaps truly, that the man, backed by numerous sympa- 
thizers, who will mistreat a stranger from another State, 
is invariably a coward. 

Colonel Jennison's men searched the town thoroughly 
and brought out from their hiding-places in cellars, barns, 
garrets, etc., men who had never tolerated in their presence 
those who advocated free speech, equal rights, and Free- 
State doctrines. All classes of men, Unionists as well as 
secessionists, were gathered up by the troopers to the 
number of three or four hundred, and marched to the 
Court-House Square and corraled there, as the citizens 
called it. It was nearly twelve o'clock before the citizens 
were all gathered up and brought into the square. 

In the meantime part of the troops had been busy 
gathering up plunder, such as horses, carriages, guns, fine 
furniture, etc. This property was all brought to the 
Public Square. The carriages, buggies, and wagons were 
strung out around the Public Square, and the furniture 
and household goods were piled up on the stone sidewalk 
around the court-house iron fence, and extended nearly 
around the square. 

After the citizens had been corraled and the plundered 

property had been brought to the Public Square, Colonel 
Vol I— 12 



./8 THE CIVIL WAR ON THE BORDER. 

Jennison read from his seat in his saddle a list of Union 
men who could come out of the crowd corraled. -— Whe-B- 
he had finished reading off the list he then directed 
Mr. Miles to pick out of the crowd all the remaining 
Union men, cautioning him that for every secessionist 
he picked out he, Colonel Jennison, would give him a cut 
over the face with his sabre. Directly after Mr. Miles 
commenced picking out the Union men, the mounted 
soldiers surrounding the Public Square, with their carbines 
resting on their right legs, talking among themselves, 
remarked that, if they commenced shooting at exactly one 
o'clock, at the rate the men were being picked out, they 
would not have a shot apiece. This conversation of the 
soldiers was heard by most of the secessionists, and some 
of them were deeply affected, and it was reported that 
many of them imagined that they could feel the blood 
trickling from their wounds. 

After the Union men had been separated from the 
secessionists, they were directed to the south side of the 
square, where Colonel Jennison addressed to them a few 
words of apology, to the effect that he regretted to cause 
them the inconvenience ; that his men were strangers 
among them, but that they could now go and hunt out 
their property that had been gathered up, and take it 
home. He then gave the assembled secessionists a lecture. 
He talked to them nearly half an hour, reminding them 
of the wrongs that they had committed against Union 
men, and what they might expect if they persisted in 
committing such wrongs ; that for every Union man 
killed, ten of the most prominent secessionists of Jackson 
County should suffer death. The property of the secession- 
ists was loaded into twelve to fifteen wagons, and taken to 
Kansas City, and afterwards carried off into Kansas. As the 
loaded wagons were getting ready to leave, and as Colonel 
Jennison had finished his lecture to the secessionists, they 
were permitted, after the soldiers had been withdrawn 
from around the square, to return to their homes. 



:, i ^ i 



/ 



Seventh Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, 1885-6. 

(P. P. 102-105-130.) 
Stevens, Hazard. Life of General Isaac I. Stevens, (Vol. 1-2.) 
Swan, J. G. Northwest Coast. 

Taylor, J. M. History and Government of Washington, (P. 

41.) 

"The Old Chief and Princess Angeline," Wide West. 

(October 15, 1902.) 



MANUSCRIPT. 

Interview D. T. Denny, Seattle. 

Interview Indians, Port Madison Reservation. 

Interview Mrs. D. S. Maynard, Seattle. 

Letters from Reverend Myron Eells, Twana, Wn., to F. Carl- 
son. Jan. 29, 1903. 

May 22, 1903. 

Letter from A. A. Bartow, Port Madison, Kitsap Co., Wn. 

June 11, 1903. 
Letter from Andrew P. Peterson, Twana, Wn. 

May 28, 1903. 

Letter from Charles M. Buchanan, Supt. Tulalip Agency, Wn. 

May 25, 1903. 



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